Scaevola plant named ‘Wesscaesun’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Scaevola  plant named ‘Wesscaesun’, characterized by its trailing plant habit; freely branching habit; small to medium-sized leaves; freely flowering habit; and bright and light yellow-colored flowers.

Botanical designation: Scaevola aemula.

Cultivar denomination: ‘WESSCAESUN’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Scaevola plant, botanically known as Scaevola aemula, and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Wesscaesun’.

The new Scaevola plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Südlohn, Germany. The objective of the breeding program is to create new compact and freely-branching Scaevola cultivars with attractive and unique flower coloration.

The new Scaevola plant originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor in Südlohn, Germany in 2007 of a proprietary selection of Scaevola aemula identified as code number 07P010, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection of Scaevola aemula identified as code number 03PSC00, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Scaevola plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Südlohn, Germany in 2009.

Asexual reproduction of the new Scaevola plant by vegetative cuttings in a controlled environment in Südlohn, Germany since 2009, has shown that the unique features of this new Scaevola plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Scaevola have not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment and cultural practices such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Wesscaesun’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Wesscaesun’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Scaevola:

-   -   1. Trailing plant habit.     -   2. Freely branching habit.     -   3. Small to medium-sized leaves.     -   4. Freely flowering habit.     -   5. Bright and light yellow-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Scaevola can be compared to plants of the female parent selection. Plants of the new Scaevola differ from plants of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Scaevola have smaller and more serrated         leaves than plants of the female parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Scaevola have smaller flowers than plants         of the female parent selection.     -   3. Plants of the new Scaevola and the female parent selection         differ in flower color as plants of the female parent selection         have white-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Scaevola can be compared to plants of the male parent selection. Plants of the new Scaevola differ from plants of the male parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Scaevola are more freely branching than         plants of the male parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Scaevola have finer lateral branches than         plants of the male parent selection.     -   3. Plants of the new Scaevola and the male parent selection         differ in flower color as plants of the male parent selection         have white-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Scaevola can be compared to plants of Scaevola aemula ‘Wesscaetowhi’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 19,728. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Südlohn, Germany, plants of the new Scaevola differed from plants of ‘Wesscaetowhi’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Scaevola were larger and more trailing than         plants of ‘Wesscaetowhi’.     -   2. Leaf margins of plants of the new Scaevola were more serrated         than leaf margins of plants of ‘Wesscaetowhi’.     -   3. Plants of the new Scaevola had smaller flowers than plants of         ‘Wesscaetowhi’.     -   4. Flowers of plants of the new Scaevola had slightly narrower         petals than flowers of plants of ‘Wesscaetowhi’.     -   5. Plants of the new Scaevola and ‘Wesscaetowhi’ differed in         flower color as plants of ‘Wesscaetowhi’ had white-colored         flowers.

Plants of the new Scaevola can also be compared to plants of Scaevola aemula ‘Wesscaecryimp’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 19,703. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Südlohn, Germany, plants of the new Scaevola differed from plants of ‘Wesscaecryimp’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Scaevola were not as freely branching as         plants of ‘Wesscaecryimp’.     -   2. Leaf margins of plants of the new Scaevola were more serrated         than leaf margins of plants of ‘Wesscaecryimp’.     -   3. Plants of the new Scaevola had smaller flowers than plants of         ‘Wesscaecryimp’.     -   4. Flowers of plants of the new Scaevola had smaller sepals than         flowers of plants of ‘Wesscaecryimp’.     -   5. Plants of the new Scaevola and ‘Wesscaecryimp’ differed in         flower color as plants of ‘Wesscaecryimp’ had white-colored         flowers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Scaevola plant, showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Scaevola plant.

The photograph at the top of the sheet comprises a top perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Wesscaesun’ grown in a container.

The photograph at the bottom of the sheet is a close-up view of typical flowers of ‘Wesscaesun’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown during the summer in Südlohn, Germany in 12-cm containers in a glass-covered greenhouse under conditions which closely approximate commercial production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 20° C. to 25° C., night temperatures ranged from about 16° C. to 18° C. and light levels ranging from 3,000 lux to 50,000 lux. Plants were 25 weeks old when the photographs and the description were taken. In the description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2001 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Scaevola aemula ‘Wesscaesun’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of Scaevola             aemula identified as code number 07P010, not patented.         -   Male or pollen parent.—Proprietary selection of Scaevola             aemula identified as code number 03PSC00, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By vegetative cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About 21 to 25 days at 20°             C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About 23 to 28 days at 20°             C.         -   Time to develop roots, summer.—About 30 days at 20° C.         -   Time to develop roots, winter.—About 35 days at 20° C.         -   Root description.—Medium in thickness, fibrous; color, close             to 158A.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; moderately dense to dense. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant form and growth habit.—Trailing plant habit; roughly             spherical in shape; vigorous growth habit.         -   Branching habit.—Freely branching, about four to eight             lateral branches develop per plant.         -   Plant height.—About 15 cm to 17 cm.         -   Plant diameter (area of spread).—About 45 cm.         -   Lateral branches.—Length: About 15 cm to 28 cm. Diameter:             About 2 mm. Internode length: About 2.4 cm. Texture:             Slightly pubescent. Color: Close to 146A to 146B.         -   Leaves.—Arrangement: Alternate, simple; sessile. Length:             About 4 cm to 6.1 cm. Width: About 2.1 cm. Shape: Spatulate             to ovate. Apex: Acute. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Serrated.             Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Densely pubescent;             leathery. Venation pattern: Pinnate, arcuate. Color:             Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 147A. Developing             leaves, lower surface: Close to 147B. Fully expanded leaves,             upper surface: Close to 147A to 147B; venation, close to             147A to 147B. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close to             147C; venation, close to 147C. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower type and shape.—Zygomorphic, semi-circular,             fan-shaped flowers with five petals fused at the base to             form a tubular flower throat; flowers sessile; flower throat             open along the upper surface exposing the reproductive             organs.         -   Flower arrangement and aspect.—Solitary flowers arise from             leaf axils; flowers face mostly outwardly.         -   Quantity of flowers.—Freely flowering habit, typically about             three to nine flowers per flower cluster.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Flowering time.—Plants flower continuously from spring to             the autumn in Germany.         -   Flower longevity.—Flowers typically last about a week on the             plant; flowers not persistent.         -   Flower cluster height.—About 7 cm to 13 cm.         -   Flower cluster width.—About 5 cm.         -   Flower buds.—Shape: Lanceolate. Length: About 5 mm to 15 mm.             Diameter: About 2.3 mm. Color: Close to 144A to 144B.         -   Flowers.—Length: About 1.4 cm. Width: About 2.2 cm. Flower             throat diameter, apex: About 2.5 mm to 3 mm. Flower tube             length: About 1.2 cm. Flower tube diameter, base: About 1.5             mm to 2.5 mm.         -   Petals.—Quantity: Five, fused at base. Shape: Oblanceolate.             Apex: Cuspidate. Margin: Entire. Length, above tube: About             1.3 cm. Width, above tube: About 5 mm. Texture, upper and             lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color: When opening, upper             surface: Close to 5A to 5C. When opening, lower surface:             Close to 5C to 5D. Fully opened, upper surface: Close to 7A;             towards the margins, close to 8D. Fully opened, lower             surface: Close to 8B to 8D. Throat: Between 144C and N144B.             Tube: Between N144A and 151D.         -   Sepals.—Quantity and arrangement: One large and two smaller             sepals in a single whorl fused at the base. Length, larger             sepal: About 1.6 cm. Length, smaller sepals: About 9 mm.             Width, larger sepal: About 2.5 mm. Width, smaller sepals:             About 1 mm. Shape, larger sepal: Lanceolate. Shape, smaller             sepals: Acicular. Apex, all sepals: Acute. Margin, larger             sepal: Indented. Margin, smaller sepals: Entire. Texture,             upper and lower surfaces, all sepals: Pubescent. Color, all             sepals, upper surface: Close to 147A. Color, all sepals,             lower surface: Close to 147B.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 7 cm to 13 cm. Diameter: About             2 mm. Strength: Strong, flexible. Texture: Smooth, glabrous.             Color: Close to 146B.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen quantity per flower:             About five. Filament length: About 3 mm. Filament color:             Close to 145D. Anther shape: Ovate. Anther length: About             2 mm. Anther diameter: About 1 mm. Anther color: Close to             11B. Pollen: Moderate. Pollen color: Close to 11A.         -   Gynoecium.—Pistil quantity per flower: One. Pistil length:             About 1.5 cm. Style length: About 1 cm to 1.2 cm. Style             color: Close to 145A to 145B. Stigma shape: Elongate. Stigma             color, immature: Close to 155D; center, close to 144A.             Stigma color, mature: Close to 11B to 11C. Ovary color:             Close to 144A.         -   Seeds/fruits.—Seed and fruit development have not been             observed. -   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Scaevola have been observed     to tolerate temperatures from about 2° C. to about 30° C. -   Pathogen/pest resistance: Plants of the new Scaevola have not been     shown to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Scaevola. 

1. A new and distinct Scaevola plant named ‘Wesscaesun’ as illustrated and described. 